Episode No. 5 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights"

With four straight wins to open the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” coach Rashad Evans is understandably excited. But as the episode opens, he reminds himself not to get too excited just yet.

The action then immediately shifts to Team Rashad’s Matt Mitrione formerly known as “the snitch,” who has tweaked his left shoulder in training. The former NFL player tries to work through the pain, and he lets Evans know a Cortisone shot might be in order.

Evans, who has taken to referring to Mitrione as “Meathead,” doesn’t think the shot is a good idea. The two debate whether the shoulder is sore or actually injured, and Evans makes the decision that the shot is not the right solution.

Team Rampage’s Marcus Jones, who says he’s ready to fight, walks in on a Team Rashad informal meeting and tries to wedge his way into a bout. Evans offers him a glimmer of hope, and Jones latches on. In his own words, he “goes coo coo for Cocoa Puffs.”

As Team Rampage’s training session opens, coach Quinton “Rampage” Jackson laments his team’s 0-4 status. In fact, Jackson says the constant losing is messing up his personal life – his sex life in fact.

Jackson is certain Evans is going to pick Zak Jensen, the last fighter picked and the man whom “Rampage” says has the least skills of anyone on the team.

Jensen tries to work from his back, but he’s struggling to keep up. His teammate, Scott Junk, says Jensen is a good guy but “a turd at practice.” Jackson says if Jensen is picked he’ll try to help his team member win, but he won’t “get [his] hopes up too high.”

Back at the house, wildman Wes Sims finally gets some camera time. He says he almost rolled his ankle trying to avoid stepping “on a family of Jensens.” Come on, what would “The Ultimate Fighter” be without a little semen talk.

Jensen insists he may have blown his nose, but he did not “jerk Mr. Happy.” Sims and the rest of the house don’t buy the excuse, and Jensen is left by himself.

Back at the gym, Mitrione is resting his left shoulder. Evans thinks he’s seeking attention more than dealing with an injury. Mitrione insists he wants to fight ASAP to prove his worth to the team, but Evans says it’s more important to get to full strength before entering the cage. The Team Rashad coaches think he needs to get his mental focus straight as well.

During a Team Rampage workout, Jensen’s supposed shower actions are shared with their coach. On the mat, things aren’t going much better for Jensen, as he’s choked unconscious by Sims.

A commercial break brings us back to the house, and Mitrione’s teammates aren’t excited that he’s still able to shoot hoops in the pool and throw a football despite being unable to train at 100 percent.

Almost everyone in the house has a take on the injury, and “the snitch” isn’t getting much sympathy. Back at the gym, the coaches declare Mitrione’s shoulder an “owie” instead of an injury. When Mitrione asks to ice the shoulder at the tail-end of practice, Evans’ frustration is evident.

Mitrione says he understands where his coach is coming from, but he wishes he could switch out his arms like an old He-man figurine.

It’s finally fight selection time, and Evans picks his own Justin Wren to face Team Rampage’s Sims. It’s a switch from the original plans that Mitrione divulged, but Wren asked not to be forced to fight his friend Junk.

Evans believes despite Sims’ experience, Wren is better in all aspects of the game.

Meanwhile, “Big Baby” Jones is livid. He feels Evans promised to pick him as an opponent, though the coach (correctly) insists he didn’t.

After a break, Wren shares a little of his background. The 22-year-old, who fights out of Travis Lutter’s camp in Texas, believes his wrestling will prove the difference in the fight. It’s youth vs. experience, and Wren believes his relentlessness will prevail.

Back at the house, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson says he’s looking forward to the fight. Slice knows Sims won’t fight, and since he doesn’t know what Greco-Roman wrestling is, he can’t see how that will benefit Wren. Slice also maintains his hope that he’ll make it back into the tournament. Spike TV probably maintains that same hope.

As Sims prepares for the fight, “The Project” insists his Hammer House background has him prepared for Wren. Team Rampage coach Tiki Ghosn preps Sims to use his lengthy limbs to his advantage on the feet. Sims says he wants to put on a show for the fans and “win viciously or lose devastatingly.” Oh, and he’ll go for the first one, dummy.

The weigh-ins feature Wren in a pair of purple leopard-print undies, while Sims sports a pair of “panties,” according to Jackson. The looks draw some laughs from the cast members.

UFC president Dana White says he’s leaning toward Sims based on his size and experience. Sims says he doesn’t want to disappoint White and thanks him for his second chance in the UFC.

Wren is pumped as the fight approaches, and Evans says he likes the attitude that his fighter is carrying.

Referee Herb Dean starts the action, and Wren wastes little time in charging forward. Sims lands a few foot stomps fro the clinch, and Wren releases after a few knees up the middle.

Sims throws a lazy jab, then a front kick. Wren shoots in again, but this time he’s successful.

Wren works from half-mount to side control. As Sims tries to buck, Wren works briefly to north-south, then back to side control. Sims lifts his legs from the bottom, but he’s unable to work free. Wren traps Sims’ right arm, effortlessly step over to mont, and a perfect arm-triangle choke is locked in.

Dean watches closely, and even checks Sims’ arm to see if he’s still conscious. Wren maintains the hold, and Dean is finally forced to step in when Sims passes out.

“I don’t know what the hell happened to Wes since he fought in the UFC last time, but he got choked out quick and went right to sleep,” White says. “I was very impressed with Justin Wren.”

Sims is left to his own devices as the physicians revive him, and Evans once again tends to his team’s opponent. Team Rampage’s Wes Shivers defends his “coach,” but Evans decides to address the issue directly with Jackson.

Evans believes Jackson can give more to his team, especially as they’ve fallen to 0-5. Evans insists Jackson is simply being “selfish,” and the discussion gets tense.

Catch new episodes of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV. MMAjunkie.com will recap each episode of the reality series, and full series coverage can be found on “The Ultimate Fighter 10” page.

The Latest

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

The man known for cranking submissions to the point of injury added eye-gouging to his repertoire. But is the controversy of Rousimar Palhares too essential to his bizarre, awful appeal for his employers to take any meaningful action against him?

Ronda Rousey’s statistical greatness has already ventured into uncharted territory – just six fights into her UFC career. Check out all the post-fight facts, including Rousey’s latest achievements, about UFC 190.